Chapter 99: can i be yours?

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: can i be yours?

She swallowed.

Words refused to form. Looking away felt completely impossible; those icy blue eyes held her in place, quiet and intense, drawing her in without effort. The air between them felt charged, heavy with everything neither of them had said. Neither noticed how the distance kept shrinking—inch by careful inch—until their foreheads lightly tapped together.

Both of them jerked back at once.

The sudden space left an awkward, charged silence in its wake. Each of them was now fully aware that the other had been leaning in for something far more intimate than a simple hair rinse.

Amelia cleared her throat and fixed her attention on the bowls as if they suddenly required her full concentration.

"I’ll just... finish up."

She returned to rinsing the last of the treatment from his hair, movements slower and more careful than before. Every brush of her fingers against his scalp felt different now.

The original idea of using this as humiliation had long since faded. What she had really wanted was simply to get closer to him. And now she knew, without needing more words, that he wanted the same.

The childish jealousy from earlier had already softened something in her. This quiet, charged moment gave her the rest of the conviction she needed.

Dean felt like his heart might burst out of his chest at any second. It wasn’t the first time it had raced like this around her, but now he finally understood why. Before, he had almost convinced himself he was having some kind of mild stroke. Now he knew it was simply her presence.

Amelia finished the final rinse and leaned back slightly, studying the restored silver-black strands. The color had returned cleanly, and the soft weight of it looked almost luminous under the bathroom light. She ran her fingers through it one last time, more gently than necessary.

"You don’t need to change your hair color," she said quietly. "I actually like it. A lot, actually." She hesitated, then added, "If you want to confirm something next time... just ask me instead of guessing. I might surprise you."

Dean’s gaze lifted to hers. A small, almost shy smile tugged at the corner of his mouth that it made something warm twist in her chest.

"I’ll remember that."

Amelia straightened and reached for a nearby towel, drying her hands thoroughly.

"I’m finished," she said. "I’ve gotten my revenge, so... that’s that." She stepped back, creating a little more space between them. "You can clean up."

As she turned to leave, Dean’s hand closed gently around her wrist. His grip wasn’t forceful—just enough to stop her, as if he were still half-expecting her to pull away.

"Amelia."

She looked back.

He cleared his throat once, the tips of his ears faintly pink.

"I would like it if we could... um." His thumb brushed once, almost absently, against the inside of her wrist. "If we could eat together. Just the two of us. No one else."

Amelia’s pulse jumped hard enough that she was certain he could feel it under his fingers.

"Sure," she said, a little too quickly. Then, softer, "We can do that tomorrow."

He held her gaze for another second before releasing her hand.

"Thanks for accepting."

The quiet sincerity in his voice followed her out of the bathroom. Amelia kept her expression carefully neutral as she crossed his room, but the moment the main door shut behind her she pressed a hand flat against her chest, feeling the residual heat of his touch still lingering on her wrist.

Gosh. He’s so cute when he acts like that.

A sheepish little smile slipped out before she could stop it. She leaned back against the closed door for half a second, letting the moment settle, then pushed off and started down the hallway.

Only then did the problem hit her.

She didn’t actually have a room of her own right now. Enzo had said she would have to stay in any one of theirs. The thought of spending an entire night alone with any of the brothers—especially after what had almost happened with Dean—made her stomach twist with nervous energy.

She didn’t trust herself not to cross a line she wasn’t ready for. The almost-kiss, the way her body had reacted to his expression in the tub... it was already too easy to imagine what a locked door and a few quiet hours could lead to.

Skye.

She didn’t know where Skye’s room was, but that felt like the safer option.

Amelia walked the corridors until she found a passing maid and asked for directions. The woman led her up another flight of stairs and pointed out a door along the quieter upper hallway. Even from outside, the bass of loud music was faintly audible through the wood.

Amelia thanked the maid and waited until she was alone before knocking.

No answer.

She leaned closer, ear nearly against the door. Nothing but the muffled beat of the music. She knocked harder, knuckles stinging slightly from the force.

Still nothing.

I’ll just apologize for walking in. I really can’t stay with the brothers tonight.

She turned the handle and stepped inside.

The volume jumped the moment the door opened. Amelia winced and covered her ears as she moved further into the room—then her eyes landed on the bed.

She froze.

Skye and Rue were completely naked, tangled together on the sheets, kissing deeply and moving against each other without any awareness that they were no longer alone.

Amelia immediately regretted stepping inside.

Skye is going to be pissed if she sees me.

She began easing backward, one careful step at a time, praying the two women were too wrapped up in each other to notice anything. Her hand found the doorknob. She pulled the door almost shut—

Rue’s head lifted slightly.

She had heard something.

Skye’s voice came out low and breathless.

"What is it?"

Rue’s eyes remained fixed on the door for a second longer.

"I thought the door moved."